The Guardian History of Modern Music Timeline

The Guardian Music Timeline: http://gu.com/p/2ptct

Rap/R&B Record Labels

Interscope records is a Universal Music parent company which oversees artists like Dr Dre, Eminem, 50 Cent, Black eyed peas, will.i.am and U2. The record label was founded in 1990. It was initially a label that dealt with hip-hop and urban music but by around the year 2000 it expanded and now covers all music genres. The record label was founded by Jimmy Iovine and Ted Field. Geffen Records and A&M Records merged together with Interscope records in 1999. NIN used to be signed with Interscope records, but Trent Reznor fell out with the label as they overpriced his album 'Year Zero' and are now part of their own record label which is called Null Corporation.

This record label is very successful with signed artists such as Ellie Goulding, Lady Gaga, La Roux and LMFAO.

My Prezi: Star Study

Star Study: Robbie Williams on Prezi

My Prezi: Music Genre Comparison, Example: Stay Awake

Music Genre Comparison: Example on Prezi
Zoom in to look at writing!

Music Video History Timeline

(My Timeline starts in the 1920's and finishes in 2005)

Music Genre Comparison / Analysis

Example 'Stay Awake'

Artists name: Eilliot Gleave (Initials E.G = Example, Well known, this song is currently 5th in the charts, fallen from 2nd position)

Music Genre: Rap, Hip Hop, R&B (the same as our music genre)

Example is signed by Data Records who are owned by The Ministry of Sound. he is quite a recent/modern artist and has worked with artists such as Wretch 32 and Tinchy Stryder.

Success: This video is successful overall because it keeps the interest of the viewer throughout and makes the viewer want to watch it again because of the fast shots and unusual content.

1) There is a use of colourisation which gradually comes apparent towards the end of the music video through the use of a colour powder fight.(use of slow motion). The start of the music video is a grey and washed out colour, with shots of the artist throughout being in black and white.

2) Use of some narrative (e.g on the line of ' Did we chase the rabbit into wonderland' (intertextual reference to Alice in Wonderland film) but mainly spectacle such as freestyle dancing or movement. Also slow motion is used to highlight the difficultly of the tricks, in time with the music.

3) Different framing and angles add interest e.g different shots of buildings/materials/speakers at the beginning.

4) Different settings and locations: disused farm buildings, city shots, woodland,etc.

5) Variety of different shots, lots of close-ups on artists face and mouth.

 6)The visuals on screen link to the lyrics closely.

 I will take aspects from this video and look at how our music video could be created.

Case Study :'Hurt' by Johnny Cash

'Hurt' By Johnny Cash'

The original song was by Nine Inch Nails. (NIN). NIN released an album called 'The Downward Spiral which featured the song on it in 1994. In 2002 Johnny Cash did a cover version of the song (above).


When analysising NIN music video compared to Johnny cash's version there are some major differences. NIN's version appears suicidal and has a depressed and unusual tone to it. The song talks about differences in society and suicide/self harm. NIN music video is a live performance with the visuals on the screen behind the artists linking to the theme of the song/lyrics. For example there are images of death, war, violence, etc).


Johnny Cash's music video has an altogether different meaning and theme. His music video was directed by Mark Romanek. He has won three Grammy Awards for best short form music video. Romanek has worked with both NIN and Johnny Cash during his career. Romanek decided to capture the memories of Cash's life from a young age to his older years through the music video (Johnny Cash was 71 when he filmed this video, he died 7 months after the filming of the music video). The theme of the music video was changed from NIN who focused on death and suicide to one of religion and faith. The music video made reference to Christ and Christianity, some of the lines were changed to also get this across, e.g a line changed into 'Crown of Thorns'. Cash's cover of the song was named the best video of the year by the 'Grammy Awards and CMA (Country music association awards)', and the best video of all time by NME (New musical Express) in July 2011.'


Johnny Cash has been called an influential figure in the country genre worldwide, the most influential singer of the 20th century and a pioneer of the rock and roll genre.
Johnny Cash's music video achieves its effects through it's simplicity. The use of photo montage inbetween shots of the artist highlight Cash's upbringing and rise to fame. The use also of visuals such as  the flowers that are wilting show decay as a reminder of what inevitably is to come in the future. There are visual reminders of his faith, such as the figure of Jesus, we also see the Johnny Cash Museum which again reminds people watching of his life and popularity.